Swarm Intelligence is kind of computation , inspired by the
swarm behaviour of flocks of bird and schools of fish . In 1995 ,
Dr. Eberhart and Dr. Kennedy showed an optimization technique ,
based on the principles of swarm intelligence . This is generally
known as Particle Swarm Optimization , and is of immense use in
solving continuous optimization problems , even though the idea
can also be used for discrete optimization problems as well .

Very often , natural creatures like birds and fish , behave in
a swarm . For instance , consider a flock of bird , where each
bird has a limited vision . There is some food lying around .
Even though a bird may not know exactly where the food is , by
observing the birds in its flock , it will go towards the bird
closest to the food , and by doing so a number of times it
ultimately reaches its goal ( food ) . Particle Swarm
Optimization ( PSO ) is an optimization technique , based on the
principles of swarm intelligence . Swarm intelligence , is
generally associated with groups of autonomous or asynchronous
agents .

PSO has found a variety of applications : optimization ,
artificial intelligence and control .